Des Moines Public Schools has filed a lawsuit against the firm hired to facilitate the superintendent search that resulted in the hiring of Ian Roberts. In a statement following two closed sessions during Friday morning’s special meeting, DMPS Board Chair Jackie Norris said One-Fourth Consulting LLC, doing business as JG Consulting, failed to “properly vet candidates.””Dr. Roberts should have never been presented as a potential Superintendent,” Norris said. “JG Consulting’s contract required them to bring all known information of a positive or negative nature to the Board, and since that did not happen the Board will pursue aggressive legal action in accordance with the law.”The district claims breach of contract and negligence in the lawsuit, filed Friday morning in Polk County.”With regard to breach of contract, the District asserts that JG Consulting failed to properly vet Roberts as a candidate and referred Roberts for consideration even though he could not lawfully hold the position. The negligence claim stems from the fact that the firm represented Roberts as a suitable and viable candidate when he was not, and failed to exercise reasonable care in gathering, verifying and supplying information on Roberts.”The district has requested a jury trial and is seeking damages “in an amount to be determined at trial.””This lawsuit won’t undo the hurt felt by those who have been impacted by our former superintendent,” said Norris. “The Board’s goal is to provide the facts necessary to firmly close this chapter and begin the process of healing and improving. This district is more than one person, it is 35,000 students, teachers and staff who work to provide an educational experience to help our kids find success.”Looking at selection of JG Consulting for superintendent searchAccording to public school board documents from Dec. 16, 2022, members of the school board received proposals to handle the superintendent search from 11 firms and narrowed those down to 4, including:Alma Advisory out of Chicago, IllinoisBWP out of Libertyville, IllinoisGR Recruiting out of Fountain Hills, ArizonaJG Consulting out of Austin, TexasBoard members highlighted several factors for choosing JG Consulting. That included:Specific experience with districts of comparable size and demographic makeup Successful record of searches for pre-K-12 education leaders Record of placing urban superintendents Demonstrated commitment to diversity and equity resulting in the placement of a pool of candidates reflecting gender, racial, and ethnic diversity in districts ranging from 8,100 students to 200,000 students Use of current real-time technology platform to achieve recruiting efficiency Strong team of administrative a “back of house” staff to support search process to include candidate communication/screening and board engagement and communication Minority owned and led consultancy utilizing diverse team of search and education professionals support search process Competitive cost proposalJG Consulting’s proposed cost was $40,000+ compared to $99,000+ for Alma Advisory, $43,400+ for BWP and $35,500+ for GR Recruiting.Austin, Texas school district addresses contract with JG ConsultingA school district in Austin, Texas, which has contracted with JG Consulting in its search for a superintendent, released this statement Friday after DMPS filed the lawsuit:The Eanes (Independent School District) Board of Trustees has been informed its superintendent search firm, JG Consulting, was previously involved in the hiring of a former Des Moines, Iowa superintendent currently under investigation for fraud and immigration-related concerns.“While we are aware of allegations in Iowa, the Board believes JG Consulting is conducting a thorough and comprehensive search for the next Eanes ISD superintendent,” said Board President Kim McMath. “As we move forward, the Board will require JG Consulting to provide extensive background information on all candidates who advance for consideration.“We are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring this process meets the highest standards. Through the combination of Eanes ISD’s rigorous internal hiring practices and JG Consulting’s enhanced evaluation protocols, we are confident the district will be presented with well-qualified, carefully vetted candidates.”The Board engaged JG Consulting in August to lead the superintendent search and finalized the Superintendent Leadership Profile at its Sept. 30 meeting. The Board anticipates naming a lone finalist by the Nov. 18 meeting.WATCH: DMPS takes legal action against JG Consulting for failing to ‘properly vet candidates’The Des Moines School Board will hold a special meeting this morning “to discuss potential legal avenues related to recent events regarding Ian Roberts’ qualifications and hiring as superintendent.”KCCI plans to livestream the meeting, which will start at 8 a.m., in the video player above, as well as on our Facebook and YouTube pages. The board is expected to go into an extended closed session.Video above: What court documents tell us about Dr. Ian Roberts’ chargesU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Roberts, 54, on Friday and said he was in the country illegally and had no work authorization. He was first taken to Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs before being transferred to Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City.Federal authorities charged him Thursday with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms, and that afternoon he was booked into the Polk County Jail.In a news release announcing Friday’s special meeting the board, which voted unanimously to accept Roberts’ resignation Tuesday evening, said they’ll work to “establish the facts and explore options to understand accountability and recoup damages.”“Des Moines Public Schools is facing a different reality than we were last Friday,” said board chair Jackie Norris. “As a learning institution, we will use this opportunity to both review the most recent superintendent hiring process as well as holding those accountable who contributed to this current situation.”The meeting will be held at 8 a.m. at the DMPS administration building at 2100 Fleur Drive.Norris referenced Roberts “misrepresenting his citizenship status to degrees that did not exist,” and said school officials plan “legal action and a thorough internal review … to find the truth so this can never happen again.” » Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayWATCH: Des Moines Board of Education votes to accept resignation of Superintendent Ian RobertsWATCH: DMPS Board Chair Jackie Norris reads statement before board’s vote to accept resignation of Superintendent Ian RobertsMore coverage of Ian Roberts’ caseWATCH: Deep dive into Ian Roberts’ employment and education historyWATCH: What court documents tell us about Dr. Ian Roberts’ chargesWATCH: Des Moines school leaders say background check flagged incorrect resume from Ian Roberts
Des Moines Public Schools has filed a lawsuit against the firm hired to facilitate the superintendent search that resulted in the hiring of Ian Roberts.
In a statement following two closed sessions during Friday morning’s special meeting, DMPS Board Chair Jackie Norris said One-Fourth Consulting LLC, doing business as JG Consulting, failed to “properly vet candidates.”
“Dr. Roberts should have never been presented as a potential Superintendent,” Norris said. “JG Consulting’s contract required them to bring all known information of a positive or negative nature to the Board, and since that did not happen the Board will pursue aggressive legal action in accordance with the law.”
The district claims breach of contract and negligence in the lawsuit, filed Friday morning in Polk County.
“With regard to breach of contract, the District asserts that JG Consulting failed to properly vet Roberts as a candidate and referred Roberts for consideration even though he could not lawfully hold the position. The negligence claim stems from the fact that the firm represented Roberts as a suitable and viable candidate when he was not, and failed to exercise reasonable care in gathering, verifying and supplying information on Roberts.”
The district has requested a jury trial and is seeking damages “in an amount to be determined at trial.”
“This lawsuit won’t undo the hurt felt by those who have been impacted by our former superintendent,” said Norris. “The Board’s goal is to provide the facts necessary to firmly close this chapter and begin the process of healing and improving. This district is more than one person, it is 35,000 students, teachers and staff who work to provide an educational experience to help our kids find success.”
Looking at selection of JG Consulting for superintendent search
According to public school board documents from Dec. 16, 2022, members of the school board received proposals to handle the superintendent search from 11 firms and narrowed those down to 4, including:
- Alma Advisory out of Chicago, Illinois
- BWP out of Libertyville, Illinois
- GR Recruiting out of Fountain Hills, Arizona
- JG Consulting out of Austin, Texas
Board members highlighted several factors for choosing JG Consulting. That included:
- Specific experience with districts of comparable size and demographic makeup
- Successful record of searches for pre-K-12 education leaders
- Record of placing urban superintendents
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and equity resulting in the placement of a pool of candidates reflecting gender, racial, and ethnic diversity in districts ranging from 8,100 students to 200,000 students
- Use of current real-time technology platform to achieve recruiting efficiency
- Strong team of administrative a “back of house” staff to support search process to include candidate communication/screening and board engagement and communication
- Minority owned and led consultancy utilizing diverse team of search and education professionals support search process
- Competitive cost proposal
JG Consulting’s proposed cost was $40,000+ compared to $99,000+ for Alma Advisory, $43,400+ for BWP and $35,500+ for GR Recruiting.
Austin, Texas school district addresses contract with JG Consulting
A school district in Austin, Texas, which has contracted with JG Consulting in its search for a superintendent, released this statement Friday after DMPS filed the lawsuit:
The Eanes (Independent School District) Board of Trustees has been informed its superintendent search firm, JG Consulting, was previously involved in the hiring of a former Des Moines, Iowa superintendent currently under investigation for fraud and immigration-related concerns.
“While we are aware of allegations in Iowa, the Board believes JG Consulting is conducting a thorough and comprehensive search for the next Eanes ISD superintendent,” said Board President Kim McMath. “As we move forward, the Board will require JG Consulting to provide extensive background information on all candidates who advance for consideration.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring this process meets the highest standards. Through the combination of Eanes ISD’s rigorous internal hiring practices and JG Consulting’s enhanced evaluation protocols, we are confident the district will be presented with well-qualified, carefully vetted candidates.”
The Board engaged JG Consulting in August to lead the superintendent search and finalized the Superintendent Leadership Profile at its Sept. 30 meeting. The Board anticipates naming a lone finalist by the Nov. 18 meeting.
WATCH: DMPS takes legal action against JG Consulting for failing to ‘properly vet candidates’
The Des Moines School Board will hold a special meeting this morning “to discuss potential legal avenues related to recent events regarding Ian Roberts’ qualifications and hiring as superintendent.”
KCCI plans to livestream the meeting, which will start at 8 a.m., in the video player above, as well as on our Facebook and YouTube pages. The board is expected to go into an extended closed session.
Video above: What court documents tell us about Dr. Ian Roberts’ charges
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Roberts, 54, on Friday and said he was in the country illegally and had no work authorization. He was first taken to Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs before being transferred to Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City.
Federal authorities charged him Thursday with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms, and that afternoon he was booked into the Polk County Jail.
In a news release announcing Friday’s special meeting the board, which voted unanimously to accept Roberts’ resignation Tuesday evening, said they’ll work to “establish the facts and explore options to understand accountability and recoup damages.”
“Des Moines Public Schools is facing a different reality than we were last Friday,” said board chair Jackie Norris. “As a learning institution, we will use this opportunity to both review the most recent superintendent hiring process as well as holding those accountable who contributed to this current situation.”
The meeting will be held at 8 a.m. at the DMPS administration building at 2100 Fleur Drive.
Norris referenced Roberts “misrepresenting his citizenship status to degrees that did not exist,” and said school officials plan “legal action and a thorough internal review … to find the truth so this can never happen again.”
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WATCH: Des Moines Board of Education votes to accept resignation of Superintendent Ian Roberts
WATCH: DMPS Board Chair Jackie Norris reads statement before board’s vote to accept resignation of Superintendent Ian Roberts
More coverage of Ian Roberts’ case
WATCH: Deep dive into Ian Roberts’ employment and education history
WATCH: What court documents tell us about Dr. Ian Roberts’ charges
WATCH: Des Moines school leaders say background check flagged incorrect resume from Ian Roberts
